Points leader, series' most recent winner share leaderboard honors
RELATED: First practice results | Final practice results
Johnny Sauter and Ryan Blaney topped the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series leaderboard in a pair of practices Thursday afternoon at Chicagoland Speedway.
Blaney, driving the Brad Keselowski Racing No. 29 Ford, set a fast lap of 175.234 mph on the 1.5-mile track in the opening hourlong practice. The 20-year-old driver will be aiming to make it two straight wins in Friday night's Lucas Oil 225 (8:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1) on the heels of his thrilling victory two weeks ago at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Jeb Burton, in the ThorSport Racing No. 13 Toyota, was second-best in the first session at 175.046 mph. NASCAR Next driver Erik Jones -- practicing in place of team owner Kyle Busch -- was third-fastest at 174.938 mph, just ahead of Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Darrell Wallace Jr. (174.870) in fourth. Sauter, the series' points leader in the No. 98 ThorSport entry, completed the top five.
In the 90-minute final practice, Sauter rose to the top of the speed chart on the last of the 29 laps he turned, clocking in at 176.540 mph. Brennan Newberry, running a part-time schedule this season, was second-fastest at 175.518 mph in the NTS Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet. Burton, former series champion Austin Dillon and Wallace rounded out the top five.
Defending series champion Matt Crafton was 11th-fastest in the early session and seventh-fastest in final practice of the 27 drivers to participate in both sessions.
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